Hutchinson brings a rare weapon into the state's most daunting section, giving the Tigers a fighting chance to challenge for a state tournament bid.
Hutchinson resides in Section 2, along with No. 1 Eden Prairie and No. 3 Chanhassen, but the Tigers may not be an easy opponent against some of the state's elite if Maddy Seifert has something to say about it.
The Hutchinson sophomore is having a phenomenal season, pushing for an individual feat not often seen in Minnesota high school lacrosse: scoring 100 goal in a season. Seifert enters the week with 91 goals and has a shot to crack the century mark with two games remaining before the postseason, including a visit to Shakopee on Thursday.
Seifert has helped lead a dynamic offense that's averaging more than 15 goals per game and has kept the Tigers' record perfect. Maintaining that pristine position will be precarious against a Shakopee squad ready to take the next step.
The key for the Sabers, whose Section 2 playoffs ended last year in a 24-1 blowout against Eden Prairie, is limiting opposing offenses. They have allowed more than 10 goals in three games this season, each resulting in a loss.
Offensively, sophomore Lexy Prahl has been one of Shakopee's primary weapons with 40 goals.